Apple, the first company to provide a 17-inch laptop solution in 2003, could well be the first to discontinue it. In usual Apple fashion, the company quietly laid the desktop replacement to rest–making no mention of the 17-inch MacBook Pro during its keynote at WWDC, or on its website after the event.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro has been experiencing waning sales as users are no doubt opting for more portable solutions with the 15-inch and 13-inch versions. And why wouldn’t they? A 15-inch computer weighing 4.46 pounds is a much more manageable option during a flight or for carrying across campus than the larger, heavier 17-inch model.

The 17-inch chassis did allow for a few extra luxuries, like better speakers, more screen real-estate, and more room for extra components and airflow. However, better speakers can be bought as an accessory, screen real-estate can increase with the purchase of an external display, and the 15-inch chassis can certainly accommodate the hardware as the new model includes Nvidia’s latest GeForce GT 650M. Whispers in December even pointed to a higher resolution display for the larger laptop (2,800 by 1,800), but apparently the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro can handle that as well.

While it is possible Apple is just discontinuing the line for now until high-resolution display pricing drops or a new design is thought up, it’s not all that probable. Perhaps Apple’s MacBook Pro tagline “It’s a whole new vision for the notebook” is more telling of the company’s direction than a simple hook. Apple’s line has become more concerned with high-end compact gadgets than offering a powerhouse in either laptop of desktop form. Even so, it seems they may not need to based on the potential performance offered by that new 15.4-inch MacBook Pro.